Filtering blow chamber



Dec. 22, 1931. E. R. POWELL FILTERING BLOW CHAMBER Y Filed July 20. 1928INVENTOR.

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Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD B. PGWELL, OIALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'IO BANNER BOOK R- POBA'IION, 0FALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE rrnrntamo Btow CHAMBERApplication filed July 20, 1828. Serial No. 284,189.

Thisinvention relates to the recovery of,

remove from a mineral fiber plant a nuisance which consists in therelatlvely light portions of the wool discharged from the blow chamberof the plant through the air vent thereof. This waste generallycomprising about five per cent of the out-put. This waste causesirritation to the workmen in the plant, clogs drains and settles oneverything in and around the plant requiring frequent and sub stantiallconstant cleaning up. The waste thus col ected is commercially uselessinasmuch as large quantities of extraneous dirt that is deleterioustothe products.

The present invention therefore contemplates the separation of thiswaste and retention thereof in a clean form suitable for addition to theother portion ofthe product from whence it came, thereby increasing theout-put to the extent of the waste recovered.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the addition to a blowchamber utilized in the formation of mineral fiber or wool of asubstantially automatic self-cleaning filter arrangement for removingfrom the exhaust steam and air employed in the production of the woolthe relatively small or fine fiber in a condition suitable forsubsequent incorporation with the normal run of material.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims;

' Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an automatic self-cleaningfiltering ventilator and blow chamber embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa diagrammatic plan view of the same.

In the drawings 110 indicates a portion of the main body of a blowchamber used in the production of mineral fiber such as mineral wool. Inproducing this fiber molten rock is blown by a steam and air blast 9into the fiber and small globules, and for collection purposes the sameis blown into what is commonly known as a blow chamber 110. The air andsteam are vented generally through the roof and the chamber is ofsettling character so that the fiber thus formed collects at the base ofthe chamber and is suitably handled thereafter as by conveyor 8. Thevented steam and air carries with it the light flufi' -like or featheryportion of the mineral woo and this passes out with the steam and airexcept that portion of the same light material which may be entrappedwith the larger fibers and settle down with them.

' The vent including the invention includes a cylindrical screen 10 ofrelatively fine mesh and having a closed bottom and an open upper end.The screen is mounted upon shaft 11, which mounts a beveled car 12 forrotating the same. Gear 12 Ines es with gear 13, driven by shaft 14 andshaft 14 is driven by a pair of beveled gears 15 one of which is carriedby shaft 16 and in turn driven by a motor 17 through a suitableconnection 18 such as a worm and wheel drive.

The open end of the cylinder discharges into the hood 19 and the airpasses from the chamber 110 through the cylinder 10 and thence throughthe hood 19 to the atmosphere. The restraining plate or defiecting'wall20 insures such travel.

If desired a sealing member 21 may be interposed between the cylinder 10and the wall 20. The cylinder traps the fine feathery fiber and permitsthe air to pass through the screen. The screen in its rotation passes infront of a hood 22 which partially encircles the screen upon itsexterior and extends substantially the full length thereof. The hoodcommunicates with a fan 122 by means of conduit 23 and the fan 122 isdriven by shaft 24 of motor 17 which shaft 24 mounts the driving wheelof the connection 18. If necessary, to insure proper air circulationthrough the chamber, and not to interfere with the normal operation orsettling of the fiber from the out-going air and steam, an auxiliaryintake 126 is provided which extends into the cylindrical screen and forsubstantially the full length thereof and is positioned opposite thehood 22. The intake 126 has an inlet 127 for supplying air from theatmosphere to the screen adjacent the hood 22. Suction applied to thescreen by the fan 122 will draw the air through the inlet 127 in- I take126 and through the screen to release the fiber trapped thereon. Thevfiber passes through the hood 22 and out through the fan and isdischarged through from outlet 25 thereof into the blow chamber where itmixes with the falling fiber and becomes incorporated therewith. Y

IVith this t pe of separation the normally lost mineral ti returned tothe main body of fiber without the addition of any adulterants orobjectionable additions, and in addition to recovering what heretoforewas a partially lost portion of the product. the apparatus removes theirritant and objectionable deposit about the plant. The mechanismautomatically discharges the collected material to the normal run ofproduct Without any manual handling or the requirement of any additionalreservoirs or the requirement of special sales which this relativelylight product if'disposed of separately would require. In addition tothe'foregoing advantages the return of this light fraction of theproduct to the product insures a better final product in respect tolightness and insulating value.

Instead of the outlet 25 of the blower 122 discharging at the end of theblow chamber opposite from the blast intake end, the blower maydischarge into the blow chamber immediately adjacent the blast or at anyintermediate point as desired or preferred, as illustrated at numeral125. Either or both out-- lets 25 and 125 may be used.

a The location of the discharge from the blower is material to thisextent that the character of the strip produced can but vary as follows:WVhen the discharge is at the far end of the blow chamber as indicatedat25 the strip will have a light flufiy-like surface layer and pronouncedin character, but if the discharge is through line 125 the finermaterial becomes intermittently mixed with the coarser and asubstantially uniform product is obtained in the strip. All grades andvariation therebetween can be obtained as afore suggested by varying theposition of the outlet of the blower 122.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing a mineral fiber strip including a blowchamber, a fiber blast discharging therein, an endless conveyor exposedto said .blow chamber for receiving gravity settled fiber therefrom, amechanical separator interposed within the vent of said blow chamber,and means for receiving the fiber separated by said mechanical separatorand discharging the same into said blow chamber at-the opposite end fromsaid blast and beyond said vent, for

obtaining a fiber strip upon said conveyor of predetermined character.

2. In combination, a blow chamber, means for forming fibres therein, anexhaust ventassociated with said chamber, separating her is separated,collected and, hood positioned axially o adapted to filter from the airsubstantially all of the fibres, means for removing said fibres fromsaid screen com rising a suction f the cylindrical screen on the convexside thereof and a directing air inlet positioned axially of the screenon the concave side thereof substantially opposite said suction hood anda conduit from said suction hood to said blow chamber for returning thefibres thereto.

3. In combination, a blow chamber, means for forming fibres therein, anexhaust vent associated with said chamber, separating means in said ventcomprising a rotatable cylindrical screen with a closed bottom and opentop, means for rotating said cylindrical screen, deflectors in said ventadapted to direct fibre-laden air against said cylindrical screen, saidscreen being of a fineness adapted to .filter from the air substantiallyall of the fibres, means for removing said fibres from said screencomprising a suction hood positioned axially of the cylindrical screenon the convex side thereof and a directing air inlet positioned axiallyof the screen on the concave side thereof substantially o posite saidsuction'hood and a conduit rom said suction hood to said blow chamberfor returning the fibres thereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDWARD R. POWELL.

